Sunday, November 27, 2005

The raven's tale

For forty days we had huddled in the raftersBirds of every kind, squabbling over perches,While the roof of the Ark was hammeredBy incessant rain; through cracks in the shuttersI could see the swirling waters, heavy with silt,Swelling and flowing around the boat

Then one dawn we woke in great surpriseSome change had happened, but what?It took some time to realiseIt was the silence, the absence of sound:The rain had stopped;We chattered in excitement

Noah strode in from the sternHis face drawn and paleHis clothes stained and dampBut relief filled his eyes"It's over", he said, "We've come through"We didn't know what he meant"We'll start afresh - now all I needIs a creature to search for landAs the water drops"

The dove, primping his white feathers,Lifted his head high for noticeRaising envious glancesFrom his neighboursBut not from me

Noah shrewdly assessed the candidates:Too fat, too slow, too dumbHe passed the dove and selected me"Go, find a tree, quick as you can,And bring a leaf to show meThat we can start our lives again"

Off I flew, fast and high, and straightLazily flapping my wingsCrossing the calming wavesLooking down for a trace of greenOn and on, further and further,Until, days later, I saw a rockA pinnacle of some great mountainStanding just proud of the seaAnd landed there to rest

Later, much later, I heard the storyOf how the dove got onBecame a symbol for peaceFor a covenant between God and manAnd was blessed by Noah;But I also heard rumoursThat Noah dined on pigeon pie

I made my own way,Self-sufficientNeeding nobody's grace,Content to flyUntil my goal appears.